Iowa · City
Commercial electricity in Des Moines, Iowa
Which electric utilities serve businesses in Des Moines, what each charged commercial customers in EIA’s 2025 data, and where Iowa’s prices stand.
EIA lists 9 electric utilities in Polk County and Warren County, the 2 counties it spans, which contain Des Moines. MidAmerican Energy, the largest by commercial customers, averaged 8.87¢ per kWh for them in 2025. Iowa’s average commercial price was 11.28¢ per kWh over the 12 months to August 2026.
Source: EIA Form EIA-861 (2025) and Form EIA-861M; U.S. Census Bureau
Electric utilities serving Des Moines
These are the utilities EIA records in Polk County and Warren County, the 2 counties it spans. EIA lists a utility in a county when it has customers anywhere in it, so this is everyone with a presence, ordered by commercial customers across Iowa, not a statement about any one address. Prices are EIA’s averages over all of each utility’s commercial customers: revenue divided by kWh.
| Utility | Type | Commercial customers in IA | Average commercial price, 2025 | Counties |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MidAmerican Energy | Investor-owned | 105,357 | 8.87¢ | Polk County, Warren County |
| Alliant Energy | Investor-owned | 85,846 | 15.05¢ | Polk County, Warren County |
| Consumers Energy Coop | Cooperative | 624 | 11.73¢ | Polk County |
| Midland Power Coop | Cooperative | 600 | 11.65¢ | Polk County |
| City of Carlisle- (IA) | fewer than 500 commercial customers | Warren County | ||
| Clarke Electric Coop Inc | fewer than 500 commercial customers | Warren County | ||
| Indianola Municipal Utilities | fewer than 500 commercial customers | Warren County | ||
| Pella Cooperative Elec Assn | fewer than 500 commercial customers | Warren County | ||
| Waverly Municipal Elec Utility | fewer than 500 commercial customers | Polk County |
Find the list for a single ZIP Code with the utility lookup, or set utilities side by side with the comparison tool.
What businesses in Des Moines pay
Across Iowa, businesses paid an average 11.28¢ per kWh over the 12 months to August 2026, 18.7% below the U.S. average of 13.87¢, and up 4.9% on the 12 months before. That ranks Iowa 38 of 51, where 1 is the highest price. In 2025 the average commercial account in the state used 4,488 kWh a month, about $487 a month at the state price; that is a mean pulled up by a few very large users, so most small businesses use less.
A city has no price of its own: two businesses on the same street can pay very different amounts per kWh, because the rate schedule, the size of the peak and, where it is allowed, the supply contract matter more than the location. The Iowa page has the state’s price history since 2010 and every utility with at least 500 commercial customers.
Choosing a supplier in Des Moines
Iowa commercial accounts buy supply from their regulated utility or cooperative. Tariff and demand work are the levers.
Where prices are heading
EIA does not forecast single states. For the West North Central census division, which includes Iowa, its November 2026 Short-Term Energy Outlook puts the average commercial price at 10.80¢ per kWh for 2026 and 10.89¢ for 2027, up 4.4% from 10.43¢ in 2025. The forecast for every region.
About Des Moines
The Census Bureau estimates Des Moines had 212,086 residents on July 1, 2025, down 0.7% from 213,682 in 2020. It spans 2 counties, most of its people in Polk County.
Other cities in Iowa
Common questions
- Who provides electricity to businesses in Des Moines?
- EIA lists MidAmerican Energy, Alliant Energy, Consumers Energy Coop and Midland Power Coop and 5 more as electric utilities in Polk County and Warren County. Which one serves a given address depends on the street; the utility on an existing bill is the definitive answer, and a utility can confirm service for a new site.
- What is the average commercial electricity rate in Des Moines?
- There is no official figure for a city. EIA publishes prices by state and by utility: MidAmerican Energy averaged 8.87¢ per kWh for its commercial customers in 2025, and Iowa averaged 11.28¢ over the 12 months to August 2026. A business’s own price depends on its rate schedule, its demand and, where it can choose, its supply contract.
- Can a business in Des Moines choose its electricity supplier?
- Iowa commercial accounts buy supply from their regulated utility or cooperative. Tariff and demand work are the levers. The state page for Iowa explains how it works and who regulates it.
Averages describe Des Moines; a bill describes your business. A person can read yours: rate schedule, demand, riders, contract window. Nobody calls unless you ask.